Giant Jesus statue rises above Polish countryside

trust in him

Story, Polish priest raising world's largest Jesus statueSWIEBODZIN, Poland – Step aside, Rio de Janeiro. This town is building a Jesus bigger than yours. A Polish priest is on the verge of realizing his dream of erecting what he says will be the world's largest statue of Jesus Christ in a small town in western Poland.Attempts were made Friday to complete the statue — which will rise a couple yards higher than the iconic Christ the Redeemer monument in Rio de Janeiro. But heavy winds prevented cranes from lifting the torso, arms and head onto the lower half of the robed white figure.Workers plan to try again just after sunrise Saturday. Polish media say the project cost 4 million zlotys ($1.45 million). Donations came from across the spectrum — from business people to poor people wanting to make a contribution to the church. Work on the statue began in 2008.Many Poles are embarrassed by the project and accuse the priest, Rev. Sylwester Zawadzki, of megalomania. But town residents are thrilled by the new business they hope it will bring once believers in this deeply Roman Catholic country add it to their pilgrimage routes. They also hope that many Germans — who tend to be much more secular than Poles — will visit simply out of curiosity since the border with Germany is only 45 miles (70 kilometers) away."My friends in Warsaw are making fun of this, but we are happy about it," said Krystyna Skurzynska, a 68-year-old retired biology teacher who belongs to the priest's parish.She said she hopes it will stimulate the economy and return some old glory to Swiebodzin, a town of 22,000 that was, as she put it, "a major town in the 13th century."The mayor, Dariusz Bekisz, also is a fan."The biggest statue of Jesus Christ in the world will be in Swiebodzin," he said. "People will come and leave some of their money behind."

_________________Jesus we trust in you.If we have Mary, we posses everything ( St. Griel Possenti )